Home / South Africa / South African Safaris / Greater Kruger Park / The Lowveld Area around Kruger Park

The Lowveld area around the Kruger Park is beautiful, with attractions including the Blyde River Canyon, the well known 'Panorama Route', elephant and chimp sancturies, and a couple of excellent animal rehabilitation projects.

The small village of Hazyview is an ideal place to base yourself for a couple of days to explore the surrounding area, and has many excellent guest houses - if you click here this will take you to our selection of carefully selected properties which you can book directly through this site.

Hazyview also has a host of restaurants and places to dine out (verything from a Wimpy to a 3 course candlelit dinner) and the Numbi gate into the Kruger Park (near Pretoriuskop Rest Camp) is only 15 km away.

In addition to the highlights listed here, the Shangana Cultural Village just outside Hazyview is worth a visit, and there are early morning balloon rides over the surrounding countryside which give spectacular views of the Drakensberg escarpment to the west, the Lowveld to the east, and the Sabie River winding its way to the horizon.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

The Blyde River Canyon is estimated to be 60 million years old, and is over 25km long and up to 800m wide in places. 

The Reserve is a spectacularly beautiful area, with many waterfalls, lush forest areas, and fascinating geological formations sculptured by years of erosion.

The Reserve is a bird watchers paradise, and has many walking trails, including the 3 day 30km Canyon hike, which follows the river bed for the entire length of the canyon. 

Not surprisingly, a reasonable degree of fitness is required...

Bourke's Luck Potholes

At the start of the canyon, where the Blyde River meets the Treur River, are Bourke's Luck Potholes.  Where the 2 rivers converge, rapids and whirlpools occur in the stream.

Over thousands of years, water-borne debris such as sand and rock have been caught up in these whirlpools, and have carved spectacular smooth sided cylindrical potholes into the rock bed of the river, some of which are 30m (100ft) deep.

The start of the strenuous 5 hour Belvedere Walk is from here. Permits are required, and anyone thinking of undertaking the walk is warned that the return is particularly steep and arduous. 

The Three Rondavels

The Three Rondavels are an impressive and much-photographed rock formation, which rise out of the canyon.

The 3 conical shaped rocks are so called because of their uncanny resemblance to a row of traditional round thatched huts.  

A short walk from the car park gets you to the main viewing area.

The best time to photograph this scenic viewpoint is late afternoon, when the warm light of the setting sun lights the stone beautifully. 

God's Window

God's Window offers stunning  panoramic views over the Lowveld as far as the Kruger National Park. 

Situated in the 'mist' belt, however, and at an altitude of over 1,200m, means that more often than not, the view is clouded over and all you see is a blanket of grey. 

The mist belt is created when the warm moist air rises from the lowveld, and condenses at high altitudes. 

If you are lucky enough to see the view, it truly is spectacular, and only a short walk from the main car park area, so is accessible for the majority of people of all ages and fitness levels. 

Elephant Sanctuary

Situated just 5 km from Hazyview, the Elephant Sanctuary is an ideal place to spend a few hours.  Young and old will love the programme on offer here, which includes not only learning about the elephants, but also being able to touch, feed, walk trunk-in-hand, and even ride these giants of the African bush.

the most important part of this operation is to ensure happy elephants and satisfied guests. All the r elephants are exercised and stimulated daily, which provides a firm foundation for trust and ultimately a wonderful experience for visitors.

Jane Goodall SA Chimpanzee Eden

The Jane Goodall SA Chimpanzee Eden is situated just 15 km from Nelspruit, and is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa.  The sanctuary is home to chimpanzees that unfortunately need rescuing and caring from their too-often misplaced habitats.

The sanctuary was founded by the renowned primatologist Jane Goodall.

Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

The Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is a sanctuary for injured, abandoned and poisoned birds and other wildlife, and a must for anyone interested in raptors and birds of prey.

Wildlife is brought to the centre from all corners of South Africa, and once healthy enough are re-introduced into their natural environments.  Animals who cannot be returned to the wild for any reason are cared for at the centre.

Another important function of the centre is breeding.  They have successfully bred and released into the wild the endangered crowned eagle, serval and many others.

The Centre is a non-profit organization, relying completely on the support of the public.  Tours are twice daily, and begin with a talk on the different birds of prey, and how they interact with each other in the natural environment. 

A tour around the sanctuary includes the opportunity to have a Cape vulture feed from your hand, meet Einstein, the resident marabou stork, play with baby warthogs, see a male lion at extremely close range, and watch the leopards being hand fed.

Hoedspruit Endangered Species Foundation

This is a unique project that conducts essential research on endangered species, and provides visitors with the opportunity to view animals, such as wild dog and cheetah, that have found a home here within natural surroundings.

The tours are an educational experience, but as well also emphasise the important role that everyone has to play in the conservation of South Africa's wildlife.

Especially good is the Cheetah Rescue Unit, where you have the unique opportunity to pet baby cheetahs and let them nibble on your fingers!